Runner for rocking-chairs



(No Model.)

W. WERNER. RUNNER FOR ROCKING CHAIRS.

No. 557,521. Patented Mar. 31, 1896.

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES ATENT ()FFICE \VILLIAM 'WERNER, OF BROOKLYN, NE? YORK.

RUNNER FOR ROCKING-CHAIRS..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,521, dated March 31, 1896.

Application filed January 31, 1896. Serial No. 577,609. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WERNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Runners for Rocking- Chairs, Cradles, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved rocker for furniture of that class in which the rockers of rocking-chairs, cradles, &c., are provided with a rubber cushion-strip, so that the easier rocking of the furniture without noise or jar takes place, with less injury to the carpet or other floor covering; and the invention consists of a rocker for furniture provided with a rubber strip having a convex outer surface and side ribs, means for attach ing said ribs to the rocker, and caps attached to the ends of the rocker and adapted to protect the ends of the bent-up rubber strips, as will be described hereinafter, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a rockingchair with my improved rockers. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the rockers, drawn on a larger scale, but not yet completed. Fig. 3 is a similar perspective view of a rocker completed. Fig. 4: is a detail vertical longitudinal section through the end of the rocker, showing the protecting-cap thereon and Figs. 5, 6, and '7 are vertical transverse sections drawn on a larger scale, and showing the rubber cushioning-strips attached, respectively, to a new, an old, or to a rocker with roundedoff lower edge, Fig. 5 being on line 5 5, Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 on line6 6, Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the rocker of a rocking-chair, cradle, or other piece of furniture.

To the under side of the rocker A is attached a rubber cushion-strip B, which is fitted to the under side of the rocker and made of rounded-off and convex shape at its under side, said strip being provided at the sides with longitudinal ribs 1), by which the strip is adapted to be attached to the under side of the rocker, either by means of nails 01 or by means of keepers c 0 attached to the sides of the rocker, and provided with inwardlyturned lips or flanges that extend over the longitudinal side ribs 1) b, as shown, respectively, in Figs. 2 and 5. The rubber strip 13 is made of sufficient length so as to correspond-to the length of the rocker, the main portion of the strip being cut off at the ends, (see Figs. 2 and 4,) so as to leave a projecting base-flange c, which is bent up over the end of the rocker and retained by sheet-metal caps D, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) which are attached to the ends of the rocker, so as to retain the bent-up flanges e and hold the same in shape, while serving also for the purpose of protecting the ends of the rubber strip against injury and wear.

lVhen new rockers are made, the under side of each of the same is made straight, in which case the adjacent surface of the rubber strip B is also made straight, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6; but when the rubber strip B is applied to runners with a convex under side the adjacent strip of the rubber is made concave, as shown in Fig. 7, the rubber strip being in either case respectively molded either with a straight or concave base, as required. When the rubber strips are attached to the rockers of rocking-chairs that have been used for some time and that are considerably worn, it is preferable to trim off the convex under side of the rockers, so as to make them uniformly straight, and apply a rubber strip with straight base to the same. The rubber cushioning-strips are made up in suitable lengths and cut off for the size of rocker required, an extra length being cut off at each end, so as to leave the end flanges that are retained by the protecting-caps applied to the ends of the rocker, which caps, in connection with devices for attaching the side ribs of the strips, form, in connection with a suitable cement, by which the under side of the rocker is connected with the base of the rubber strip, a

very reliable and effective connection between the rocker and this cushioning-strip.

The advantages of my improved rockers with rubber strips are, first, the same can be applied both to new and old rocking-chairs; secondly, that the creaking noise of the rockers on the floor is prevented and the carpet is less worn thereby, and, lastly, that the clasticity of the rubber strips facilitates the ac tion and furnishes a desirable cushioning for the rockers.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. lhe combination, with the rocker of a rocking-chair or other piece of furniture, of a rubber cushioning-strip with a convex middle portion and longitudinal side ribs, means for attaching the side ribs to the rocker, and protecting-caps by which the ends of the rubber strips are attached to the ends of the rocker, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the rocker of a rocking-chair or other piece of furniture, of a rubber on shionin g-stri p provided with a 0011- WILLIAM WERNER. \Vitnesses:

1E0. W. .TAEKEL, GEo. S. WHEELocK. 

